Front flag to show height?

[Naio]

Hi everyone :).

I have never had a tall rig before, and worry about low branches! I will be carrying some gear on the front, so there is a place where I could put a flag that is the same height as the roof, and that I would be able to see while driving.

Can you folks recommend anything? I want a flexible pole, obviously ;). But also one that can stay extended while driving -- would an ATV flag be TOO flexible, and whip around? Should I just use a piece om bamboo? Is there a better option?

Thanks much for any advice!

[Naio]

Thank you, everyone, especially for the brilliant, creative ideas on page one! It's funny how this second page has turned all anti :B.

I think the kite pole might be the best for me. I like its unobtrusive look.

And the golf ball grabber might be exactly what I meed for picking fruit!

I sometimes have other people driving this rig, not RV people. I think a camera, though a great idea for a single driver, would be just another distraction for them.

A friend got my rig wedged under a roof this summer. I was not with him. I think a visual aid might prevent that happening again.

[DiskDoctr]

You know what a big pole on the front is going to look like. It's not attractive.

If you are really that concerned, why not put a small "backup camera" on the front of the roof, facing forwards. You can run the wire through your door opening to a monitor.

No holes in the roof and you can install it in about 5 minutes 😉

[Dusty_R]

valhalla360 wrote:
On the road, it's not really an issue. If you are concerned, measure your height and watch the bridge height signs.

In a campground, if it looks close have someone get out and watch while you slowly approach.

I have our height posted on the dash of our mh. Once at a Canadian border crossing, while waiting at customs, we saw a sign stating maximum height at that gate, which was less than we were tall, and that gate was the only gate open.
The inspector/agent took us over to a truck gate and opened it so we could cross.

Dusty

[valhalla360]

On the road, it's not really an issue. If you are concerned, measure your height and watch the bridge height signs.

In a campground, if it looks close have someone get out and watch while you slowly approach.

[F1bNorm]

When shopping for my MH, I used a cheap golf ball retriever to check the height. Had a house eave it needed to pass under. You could make a holder for both front and back, insert when needed (which I think will be rarely).
For my hobby, I have a variety of poles to check wind direction. In addition to the ball retriever, I use yard sale fishing rods that I stripped the handle and guides off, kite poles (up to 31').

[klutchdust]

kerrlakeRoo wrote:

klutchdust wrote:

kerrlakeRoo wrote:
One of the old 108" stainless steel CB radio whips would be ideal, if you can find one.

Still available on Amazon, a little shorter than 108. They bend a bit at speed.

But in my old truck I could hear the second they touched anything, and a tennis ball pressed down over the shaft wherever it flexes and touches the van should help with it bending at speed, and her issue has to be when going slow, since there is no way she could stop from more than about 3 mph for an overhead obstruction before it struck the hi-top extension.

True, just stating a fact. I still use one and have a tennis ball on it so it bounces off the back of my Jeep.

[1995brave]

kerrlakeRoo wrote:
One of the old 108" stainless steel CB radio whips would be ideal, if you can find one.

I was thinking of the same thing. Had one on my 1973 Dodge van. Put a flag on the end from the Rocky Mountain Van Club of Colorado Springs.

[kerrlakeRoo]

klutchdust wrote:

kerrlakeRoo wrote:
One of the old 108" stainless steel CB radio whips would be ideal, if you can find one.

Still available on Amazon, a little shorter than 108. They bend a bit at speed.

But in my old truck I could hear the second they touched anything, and a tennis ball pressed down over the shaft wherever it flexes and touches the van should help with it bending at speed, and her issue has to be when going slow, since there is no way she could stop from more than about 3 mph for an overhead obstruction before it struck the hi-top extension.

[klutchdust]

kerrlakeRoo wrote:
One of the old 108" stainless steel CB radio whips would be ideal, if you can find one.

Still available on Amazon, a little shorter than 108. They bend a bit at speed.

[Old-Biscuit]

My 5th wheel is 13'4" and we traveled secondary/back roads for 7 yrs of FT travel.

How tall is that Class C DIY Van Conversion :H

Over thinking the issue....

[Sam_Spade]

azdryheat wrote:
Fortunately for you, your C is shorter than the rest of us.

Simplistic answer:
Don't go where there are low hanging limbs. 😉

Unless you are into "real" boondocking, there won't be a problem because unless you have a really unusual C, it is 1-1/2 to two feet shorter than busses, semis and a lot of class A's.

There are some occasional "boulevards" where you have to move over to the center lane but not many.

[azdryheat]

Get one of those poles the pilot cars use for oversized loads and attach it to your front bumper. With a little time you will be able to judge which trees you can go under. Fortunately for you, your C is shorter than the rest of us.

[kerrlakeRoo]

One of the old 108" stainless steel CB radio whips would be ideal, if you can find one.